Storage apparatus

ABSTRACT

A storage apparatus e.g. for parking automobiles, has a plurality of movable platforms arranged side by side, one of the platforms having a drive device comprising motor driven friction rollers which can be pivoted into frictional contact with the ground and actuating elements for releasing hook couplings connecting the platforms together.

United States Patent Stienen et al.

[ July 17,1973

STORAGE APPARATUS Inventors: Karl-Heinz Stienen, Rainacker, Boll-Sinneringen; Paul Trohler, Robinsonweg 10, Bern, both of Switzerland Filed: Oct. 22, 1970 Appl. No.: 82,964

Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 24, 1969 Switzerland 16073/69 U.S. Cl. 2l4/l6.1 CC, 213/212, 105/73 Int. Cl E0411 6/06 Field of Search 214/16.1 CC, 16.1 CD, 214/161 CE, 16.1 EA, 16 B, 16.1 E; 105/73, 75, 32; 180/11, 15, 16

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1925 Dunkley 180/11 5/1928 Dormann 214/161 CC 2,016,626 10/l935 Constantinesco 105/215 C 2,031,392 2/1936 Taylor 2l4/l6.l CC

2,495,573 1/1950 Duke l 180/11 3,563,400 2/1971 Greavcs 214/16] R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 442,148 1/1968 Switzerland 214/16 B Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-R. B. Johnson Att0rneyBrady, OBoyle & Gates [57] ABSTRACT A storage apparatus e.g. for parking automobiles, has a plurality of movable platforms arranged side by side, one of the platforms having a drive device comprising motor driven friction rollers which can be pivoted into frictional contact with the ground and actuating elements for releasing hook couplings connecting the platforms together.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented July 17, 1973 3,746,188

4 Sheets-Sheet l KARL HEINZ STIENE'N PAUL. TROHL ER BY .44, 03M

ATTORNEYS Patented July 17, 1973 3,746,188

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 hive/21ers KARL HEINZ STIENEN PAUL TROHLER ATTDRNYS Patented July 17, 1973 3,746,188

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fly. 6

l/welllors KARL HEINZ JSTIENEN PAUL TRQHLQER AT TORNEYS STORAGE APPARATUS The present invention relates to storage apparatus, e.g. for the parking of automobiles, having a plurality of movable platforms arranged adjacent one another, which can be displaced for selectively forming a service passage.

Such apparatus has been proposed in different forms provided with a drive device for displacing the platforms, the drive device comprising endless chains or reciprocating rods driven by a drive motor. The platforms are suspended by means of couplings from the drive device or a platform is rigidly connected with the drive device and further platforms are suspended from the platform connected with the drive device. The drive device and the actuating elements of the couplings are arranged beneath the platforms in recesses in the floor on which the platforms run. This arrangement has the great disadvantages that by contamination failures often occur, that recesses are not always possible, e.g. in reinforced flooring, and also such driving devices are complicated and expensive.

The present invention provides a storage apparatus comprising a plurality of movably stored platforms which are arranged adjacent one another and which can be displaced between two platforms for selectively forming a service passage, wherein a drive device is pivotally secured to one platform and comprises a geared motor with friction rollers fixedly secured to the output shafts of the gearing of the motor for rotation therewith, the geared motor being pivotable by a spring force to press the friction rollers on to the floor on which the platform is movable, whereby the friction rollers are brought into frictional contact with the floor in operation, and wherein actuating elements for couplings by which further platforms can be connected to one another are secured to the said one platform.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a storage apparatus;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a platform drive device of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a section taken along the line II of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a section taken along the line IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a section taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a modification of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 shows a section taken along the line of IVIV of FIG. 6.

The embodiments given by way of example are installations for the parking of automobiles, in which platforms 1, 2 and 3 are arranged with their longitudinal sides adjacent one another, the platforms extending in front of a series of fixed automobile stopping places. The platforms each comprise a sheet metal'member which is formed with two running grooves and which is stiffened by a carrier 4. In the region of the running grooves, the sheet metal is bent downwardly so that a motor car can run on to the platform correctly.

By means of rollers 5, each platform is supported on rails 6 let into the ground in such a manner that the platforms can be displaced sideways by rollers 5 traveling along the rails.

The platform I is provided with a geared drive motor 7, which is pivotally secured by a base plate 8 to an axle 9 on the underside of the platform. The base plate 8 is engaged by an adjustable compression spring 10, which so pivots the base plate 8 that friction rollers 11, which are keyed to the output shafts of the gearing of the motor, press on the floor, whereby a friction is produced between the friction rollers and the floor.

When the drive motor 7 is switched on, the platform 1 is driven by frictional force and is displaced until the drive motor is switched off by an end switch (not shown). The extent of the travel is determined by appropriate arrangement of the end switch.

In order to allow the platform to be displaced even in the case of an interruption in current or a motor defeet, the compression spring 10 is compressed by rotation of an eccentric disc 12 mounted on a shaft 13, whereby the friction is removed and the platform can be displaced manually.

The platform 2 is connected to the platform 1 by means of a releasable coupling hook 14, and the platform 3 is connected by a coupling hook 15 to the platform 2. Electromagnets l6 and 17 are secured to the platform 1 for automatically disengaging the coupling hooks 14, 15.

The coupling hook 14, as can be seen from FIG. 4, is provided on the platform 1 on a pivot pin 18 and engages a pin 19 on the platform 2. The coupling hook I5 is pivotally secured to the platform 2 and engages a pin 20 on the platform 3. Beneath platform 2, as shown in FIG. 5, there extends a rod 21 which is guided in bearings 22 and which is urged toward actuating engagement with electromagnet 17 by compression spring 23. The opposite end of rod 21 is connected for rotating coupling hook 15.

When the electromagnet 16 is switched on, a pressure is exerted on the coupling hook 14, and this is pivoted about the pivot point 18, whereupon it is released from engagement with the pin 19, and the platform is disconnected from the platform 1.

When the electromagnet 17 is switched on, it exerts a pressure on the coupling hook 15 by shifting rod 21 against compression spring 23, which pivots hook l5 and releases the pin 20, and the platform 3 is thereby disconnected from the platform 2.

With the apparatus described above, when only the motor 7 is switched on the platforms 1, 2 and 3 are displaced as a unit, when the drive motor 7 and the electromagnet 17 are switched on the platforms 1 and 2 are displaced as a unit, and when the drive motor 7 and the electromagnet 16 are switched on only the platfomi l is displaced on the rails 6.

In general only a maximum of two platforms are connected to a platform provided with a drive device in the manner described above, but any number of such groups of three can be arranged in a row, and a plurality of rows of platform can be arranged one behind the other in an installation.

With an electrical control arrangement each platform can be controlled in such a manner that the appropriate motors and electromagnets are switched on by relays. The current supply to the platfonn with the drive device and to the coupling actuation electromagnets takes place e.g. over sliding contacts from a conductor rail (not shown).

It is obviously also possible to provide the device with containers or supports for any goods to be stored in a similar manner.

In the modified embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the bearings of the axle 9 are secured to a plate 23, against which the compression spring 10, which urges base plate 8 downwardly is also supported. The plate 23 is pivotable about two pins 24 the common axis of which lies on a line at right angles to the axis of the friction rollers 11 and from which both friction rollers are equally spaced. The axis of pins 24 also lies at right angles to the axis of axle 9. With this embodiment, there is friction between the friction rollers and the floor even when the floor is uneven.

We claim:

1. A storage apparatus comprising a first movable storage platform and a plurality of second movable storage platforms, said first and second platforms being movably stored adjacent one another in side-by-side consecutive order in the same plane on a floor and displaceable in the same plane to form a service passage adjacent at least one of said platforms, a drive device pivotally connected to said first storage platform rendering said first storage platform self-propelled, said drive device comprising a geared motor and said geared motor having output shafts driven by the gearing thereof, friction rollers on said output shafts, means securing said friction rollers to said output shafts for rotation therewith, spring means normally urging said friction rollers into frictional contact with the floor on which said first storage platform is movable to enable displacement of said first storage platform by said geared motor, first coupling means for selectively securing the first storage platform to the adjacent second storage platform and individual second coupling means for selectively securing successive adjacent second storage platforms to each other in side-by-side consecutive relation whereby said second storage platforms may be displaced with the first storage platform by said drive device thereon, said individual second coupling means including a shiftable rod means on at least the second storage platform adjacent the first storage platform, first actuating means on said first storage platform connected for releasing said first coupling means, and individual second actuating means on said first storage platform registerable with said shiftable rod means when said second storage platforms are adjacent each other and adjacent said first storage platform and operative to shift said rod means for releasing said individual second coupling means between adjacent second storage platforms.

2. A storage apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising means connected on said first storage platform operable to raise said friction rollers in the vertical plane for releasing said frictional contact between said friction rollers and said floor.

3. A storage apparatus as set forth in claim I, wherein said first and second coupling means comprise hooks for connecting said second storage platforms to one another and to said first storage platform, said hooks connected for release by said first and second actuating means on said first storage platform.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising means supporting said drive device on said first storage platform for pivotation about a first axis parallel to the common axis of said friction rollers and about a second axis perpendicular to said common axis, said friction rollers being equally spaced from said second 

1. A storage apparatus comprising a first movable storage platform and a plurality of second movable storage platforms, said first and second platforms being movably stored adjacent one another in side-by-side consecutive order in the same plane on a floor and displaceable in the same plane to form a service passage adjacent at least one of said platforms, a drive device pivotally connected to said first storage platform rendering said first storage platform self-propelled, said drive device comprising a geared motor and said geared motor having output shafts driven by the gearing thereof, friction rollers on said output shafts, means securing said friction rollers to said output shafts for rotation therewith, spring means normally urging said friction rollers into frictional contact with the floor on which said first storage platform is movable to enable displacement of said first storage platform by said geared motor, first coupling means for selectively securing the first storage platform to the adjacent second storage platform and individual second coupling means for selectively securing successive adjacent second storage platforms to each other in side-by-side consecutive relation whereby said second storage platforms may be displaced with the first storage platform by said drive device thereon, said individual second coupling means including a shiftable rod means on at least the second storage platform adjacent the first storage platform, first actuating means on said first storage platform connected for releasing said first coupling means, and individual second actuating means on said first storage platform registerable with said shiftable rod means when said second storage platforms are adjacent each other and adjacent said first storage platform and operative to shift said rod means for releasing said individual second coupling means between adjacent second storage platforms.
 2. A storage apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising means connected on said first storage platform operable to raise said friction rollers in the vertical plane for releasing said frictional contact between said friction rollers and said floor.
 3. A storage apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second coupling means comprise hooks for connecting said second storage platforms to one another and to said first storage platform, said hooks connected for release by said first and second actuating means on said first storage platform.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising means supporting said drive device on said first storage platform for pivotation about a first axis parallel to the common axis of said friction rollers and about a second axis perpendicular to said common axis, said friction rollers being equally spaced from said second axis. 